Amy Peck appointed to Parks and Recreation Committee

Despite reservations by at least one member, the Board of Directors on June 17 appointed Amy Peck to a first term on the Ocean Pines Association’s Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee. Peck, a former OPA director, is often outspoken regarding Board actions and frequently speaks during the Public Comments segment of Board meetings, usually critical of Board decisions.

Earlier this year, an offer to work for the OPA Aquatics Department this summer was rescinded via the OPA’s Human Resources Department, for reasons that were never publicly disclosed.

Bill Barnard, the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee chairman, endorsed Peck’s membership on the panel.

“Amy will make a great addition to the committee,” he said on her application.

OPA President Doug Parks, on the other hand, wrote in under the second endorsement section on the application form.

“I have concerns about this individual,” he said, referring to Peck. As a result, he said he could not vote to support her appointment to an advisory committee, and he subsequently abstained from voting on the appointment.

The vote approving Peck’s appointment was 6-0, with Parks’s abstention.

Director Colette Horn supported Peck’s appointment. She said Peck has been a resident of Ocean Pines for many years, has raised her children in the recreation and parks programs, and frequently volunteers at recreation and parks activities.

“She’s really invested a lot of herself” in supporting the programs, she said.

Director Steve Jacobs also supported Peck’s appointment. “We highly value our volunteers,” he said, adding “I am aware that Ms. Peck has raised issued that angered some people.” But, he said, none of that has anything to do with recreation and parks.

Jacobs said it would set a very bad precedent to “acid test” all applications for appointments to committees based on whether the person has perceived conflicts with certain directors.

Peck and another applicant up for review at the June 17 meeting.

The other applicant appointed by the Board to the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee was Laura Scharle, who is serving a second term. Other appointments made unanimously by the Board were Michael Reynolds for a fist term to the Marine Activities Committee and Debbie Bennington for a first term to the Communications Committee.

Financial policy manual updated

The Board of Directors voted unanimously on June 17 to adopt an updated Financial Policy Manual.

OPA President Doug Parks made the motion to approve the document, which was updated to address the dated information in the existing policy manual and provide the policies that govern aspects of the financial operation of the association.

As background, Parks said the Financial Policy Manual was last updated in 2006. He said many things have changed since that time and the manual was overdue for an update.

the Board were Michael Reynolds for a first term

He said the OPA gives its members the opportunity to invest their time in interests that support and benefit Ocean Pines and the Board should encourage everyone to do so.

Jacobs pointed out that are sufficient vacancies on the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee to accommodate the appointment of both

The manual was referred to the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee for its review and comment. The manual was also reviewed by the general manager, the staff finance team and the will be kept anonymous and confidential.